Little Rock, AR – A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Arkansas, northeast Texas, and northern Louisiana as forecasters warn of severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds through midnight.
According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center, Tornado Watch Number 100 was issued at 3:50 p.m. CDT Wednesday and will remain in effect until 12 a.m. Thursday. The watch area includes southern Arkansas, northern Louisiana, and northeast Texas, with coverage extending approximately 65 miles north and south of a line from near Longview, Texas, to east of El Dorado, Arkansas.
The main threats include the possibility of a few tornadoes—some potentially strong—along with wind gusts reaching 70 mph. Scattered hail events are also expected, with isolated reports of hail reaching up to 2 inches in diameter.
Forecasters report that storm development may occur in multiple areas across the ArkLaTex region through the late afternoon and evening hours. Severe storm activity is expected to be most intense between 6 p.m. and midnight, prompting officials to encourage all residents within the watch area to remain weather aware.
In addition to the tornado threat, aviation alerts cite extreme turbulence and severe thunderstorm conditions with wind gusts near 60 knots and storm tops reaching 55,000 feet.
The region has already experienced multiple severe weather watches this week, as spring storm activity ramps up across the South.
Be sure to follow us on Instagram & like us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on more relevant news stories and SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT NEWS! Have something you’d like to let us know about? Message us on our social channels and let us know about it!
